Shipping Lines Feel Effects
Of Asian Economic Turmoil

NEW YORK -- For the shipping industry, the continuing turmoil in Asia has essentially become a tale of two ships: one full, the other empty.

The world's biggest ocean-shipping lines say Asia-bound freighters are leaving the U.S. far emptier than before, and returning far fuller. The upshot: While government statistics haven't shown it yet, the U.S. trade deficit is probably worse than it seems, because of the plunging value of Asian currencies.